Kalen is hoping his team can improve even more against a tough SEC opponent. (Photo courtesy of Facebook).
I was going to be out of town this weekend in New York, so I was not writing, but with a Nor’Eastern blowing through the City this weekend, it gives me a chance to predict the games.
I was hopeful I would be spending the weekend with my daughters and son-in-law and doing some fun stuff including going to the Giants-Titans game on Sunday. But such is life. And there is a lot of stellar college football this weekend, so I’ll post the scores without much elaboration as I wasn’t expecting to be writing this. I’ll have a lot more elaboration in week 5 and going forward.
Here are this weekend’s predictions.
Last Week: SU: 13-5, Overall, 52-12, 81%. ATS: 12-6, 33-31, 52%. O/U: 7-11, 35-29, 55%.
All times Central and all games Saturday.
South Carolina (2-1) @ No.8 Alabama (3-0)
Bryant-Denny, 6 P. M. ESPN
Bama by 12 1/2, 54 1/2
Crimson Tide 38, South Carolina 28
Vanderbilt (3-0) @ Auburn (2-1)
Jordan-Hare
3:15 P.M., SEC Network
AU by 9 1/2, 55 1/2
Vanderbilt 28, Auburn 27
No.1 Texas (3-0) @ No. 14 Tennessee (3-0)
Neyland Stadium, Knoxville
11 A.M., ABC
Texas by 4 1/2, 54 1/2
Texas 31, Tennessee 27
No.4 Ole Miss (4-0) @ No.21 Florida (3-0)
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville
2:30 P.M., ABC
Florida by 3 1/2, 59 1/2
Ole Miss 34, Florida 30
Oklahoma (2-1) @ No. 2 Georgia (3-0)
Sanford Stadium, Athens
2:30 P.M., ESPN
Dawgs by 13 1/2, 44 1/2
Georgia 31, Oklahoma 14
No.23 Texas A&M (2-1) @ No. 10 LSU (2-1)
Tiger Stadium, Baaton Rouge
6:30 P.M., ABC
L-S-U by 8 1/2, 52 1/2
LSU 31, A&M 21
No.19 Missouri (3-0) @ No.24 Mississippi State (3-0)
Virginia Tech transfer linebacker Caleb Woodson has made a huge difference at inside backer for the Crimson Tide. (Photo courtesy of Instagram).
The Crimson Tide is out for a little vengeance, and the Auburn Tigers are in a critical rivalry game as their two talented young coaches renew a rivalry of their own from the American Conference. Meanwhile, Vaught-Hemingway Stadium will be extremely raucous as a villain and his team enter the confines.
There will be several other meaningful SEC matchups, with all teams in action, along with some SEC versus non-conference games and a couple of key national matchups featuring heavyweights from the Big Ten, at least I thought so until last Saturday Night in Austin, competing against lighter-weight opponents.
Here’s a look at all of that, along with predictions and projections for the fluid landscape of the 12-team College Football Playoff, on White’s World Sports Confidential.
All game times are Central. All games on Saturday unless otherwise noted.
Florida State (1-1) @ No.10 Alabama (2-0)
Bryant-Denny Stadium, 2:30 P.M., ABC.
Bama by 18 1/2, 48 1/2
After a rough first half, I thought the Tide settled down, played superb defense and got the offense started cookin’. Running back Daniel Hill rushed for 104 yards on 18 carries, 5.8 attempt, with a long run of 31 yards and a TD in a 31-7 road victory over Kentucky. I liked what I saw in the second half.
I like the Tide to exact revenge on FSU on Saturday. I think this team believes that what happened last season at Doak Campbell was unacceptable.
Alabama 35, Florida State 10
I like Keelon Russell and the Crimson Tide to be solid on Saturday as they matriculate this season. (Photo courtesy of Yahoo Sports).
Omar Mabson and the Tigers ran the … “heck” out of the ball last Saturday Night in Jordan-Hare. (Photo courtesy of Facebook).
Florida (2-0) @ Auburn (2-0)
Jordan-Hare, 6 P.M., ESPN
Florida by 1 1/2, 53 1/2
I loved the Tigers running game last Saturday, even though Alex was pretty upset about the effort against Southern Miss.
The Tigers rushed for 350 yards last Saturday night in a 43-8 victory over Southern Miss. They were led by Omar Mabson II’s 108 yards, Byrum Brown’s 88 and Jeremiah Cobb’s 85.
Florida has a solid team under first year coach Jon Sumrall, who renews a rivalry with Coach Golesh. Sumrall coached at Tulane and Golesh at South Florida the past several seasons. Sumrall and Tulane defeated Golesh and the Bulls 45-10 in New Orleans in 2024.
The Tigers special teams will have to be solid to corral Florida punt return man Vernell Brown III, who already taken two punts back to the house this season.
With that said, I always like the home crowd at Jordan-Hare and I love the DJ Durkin defense and the running game. Give me the Tigers in a slight upset.
Auburn 27, Florida 24
Are KIffin and LSU doing what they always do? Lie? (Photo courtesy of Instagram).
No. 7 LSU (2-0) @ No.8 Ole Miss (2-0)
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, 6:30 P.M. ABC
LSU by 1 1/2, 57 1/2
What a blockbuster, with massive storylines. Kiffin returns to the place where he’s public enemy number one. The LSU availability report on the SEC website lists quarterback Sam Leavitt as doubtful, meaning there is a 25 percent chance he’ll play. But do you really trust that? It looks like more deception and sandbagging from Kiffin and the Bayou subterfuge machine.
Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacey are still in Oxford, so even if Leavitt starts, I like Chambliss, Lacey and the Rebels to get the better of LSU.
Ole Miss 31, LSU 27
UTSA (2-0) @ No. 1 Texas (2-0)
DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, 7 P.M. SEC Network+
Texas by 29, 58 1/2
Texas couldn’t even get it right after they defeated then-No.1 Ohio State in Austin last Saturday night. After a colossal choke job by Ryan Day, defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, quarterback Julian “Just” Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, Texas completed an impressive comeback from a 23-3 second half deficit to win 24-23.
While Arch Manning and Steve Sarkisian look like heroes, Sarkisian blew off ABC’s Holly Rowe after the game without giving her the courtesy of an interview. Sarkisian just ran off and said “Hook’em” or something like that looking for his big buddy Matthew McConaughey, who wants to believe he’s a coach despite the fact that he’s all fiction.
Then, on Monday, Manning laughed at and called some sort of spoof of Sarkisian slapping Rowe, “hilarious.” Real classy, Arch.
I’m still not a complete believer in Texas. I still doubt the team’s toughness. Ohio State is never tough under Ryan Day, so Texas defeating the Buckeyes wasn’t really about toughness.
The jury is still out on Texas, in my opinion. The Longhorns have purchased a lot of talent, but can Sarkisian and Manning really get it done when it matters? That’s still my biggest question about them.
Texas 42, UTSA 14
No.2 Georgia (2-0) @ Arkansas (1-1)
Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, 11 A.M. ABC
Georgia by 24 1/2, 54 1/2
Georgia is for real, but can Kirby Smart get it done when it really counts? Gunner Stockton and all that talent sure give him a shot. Smart is known for making questionable decisions in the clutch that can cost his teams crucial games, but the Dawgs are highly talented and physical. Arkansas, under first year coach Ryan Silverfield, has a ways to go before it is competitive in the SEC.
Georgia 45, Arkansas 14
Kentucky (1-1) @ No. 9 Texas A&M (2-0)
Kyle Field, College Station, 2:30 P.M. ESPN
A&M by 17 1/2, 50 1/2
Kentucky Coach Will Stein may want to rethink his arrogant comments at SEC Media Days that he’s the reason the Wildcats will excel. It was kind of shocking when he was asked why he thought Kentucky would be successful, and said, “Because of me.” Though Mike Elko’s shown a propensity to collapse in the postseason, he and his Aggies will teach Stein another lesson in life in the SEC. The former Oregon offensive coordinator will get it handed to him again.
I like LaNorris Sellers and Shane Beamer to just barely get by a much-improved Mississippi State team that went to Minnesota last Saturday and blasted the Golden Gophers, 38-13. I almost want to pick the Bullies and Jeff Lebby, but I’ll take the home-field advantage here.
South Carolina 31, Mississippi State 28
Kennesaw State (1-1) @ No. 15 Tennessee (2-0)
Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, 6:45 P.M. SEC Network
Tennessee by 35 1/2, 59 1/2
Vols freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon has been good so far, but the competition, Furman and a down Georgia Tech team, hasn’t been too strong.
Tennessee 49, Kennesaw State 14
Troy (2-0) @ No.20 Missouri (2-0)
Memorial Stadium, Columbia, Missouri, 6 P.M. SEC Net+
Missouri by 26 1/2, 50 1/2
I like Missouri to win but not cover.
Missouri 34, Troy 10
New Mexico (2-0) @ No.24 Oklahoma (1-1)
Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, 6:30 P.M. ESPN
Oklahoma by 20 1/2, 46 1/2
Another SEC team I like to win, but not cover. Brent Venables, offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and quarterback John Mateer were a disaster in 17-10 loss to Michigan at Ann Arbor. All three look like they’re out of their league right now.
Five-star freshman Jared Curtis finally gets the start and bails Clark Lea out. This move could definitely change the trajectory of the Commodores program this season. Maybe Curtis can get Lea to six wins and a bowl game victory and more momentum with Curtis the centerpiece of the future.
This is a tough game for the Commodores on Saturday, however. They need to win these out of conference games because the conference ia a beast starting @ Auburn a week from Saturday, 9/26.
Vanderbilt 27, NC State 23
Good games Nationally
No. 16 SMU (2-0) @ No. 23 Louisville (1-1)
L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium, Louisville, 2:30 P.M., ESPN2
Louisville by 1 1/2, 59 1/2
I’m looking at a really solid game here, with SMU almost pulling it off. But the home-field advantage gets the job done. Two good teams.
Louisville 31, SMU 30
Friday
No. 22 Houston (2-0) @ No.13 Texas Tech (2-0)
Galaxy Stadium? Lubbock, Texas, 7 P.M., FOX
Texas Tech by 7 1/2, 51 1/2
Lubbock, we’ll have a problem. Taking the upset.
Houston 34, Texas Tech 31
Friday
No. 5 Miami (2-0) @ Wake Forest (2-0)
Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium, Winston-Salem, 6:30 P.M., ESPN
Miami by 20 1/2, 55 1/2
Miami looks good, like a top-three team in the country, but the competition has been pretty light. I like’em to win and cover here, though.
Miami 42, Wake 17
Back to Saturday
Michigan State (2-0) @ No.3 Notre Dame (2-0)
Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana, 6:30 P.M., NBC
Notre Dame by 29 1/2, 52 1/2
Notre Dame, who knows yet? I like’em to win at home but not cover.
Notre Dame 42, Michigan State 17
West Virginia (2-0) @ No.25 Virginia
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina, 6:30 P.M., ACC Network
UVA by 9 1/2, 53 1/2
I love UVA, but I think this’ll be a tough game because Rich Rod is good at West Virginia.
Virginia 28, West VA. 24
Joke National Games
Western Kentucky (0-2) @ No. 4 Indiana (2-0)
Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, 3 P.M., Peacock
Indiana by 44 1/2, 60 1/2
Indiana with its typical joke of a non-conference schedule. Come on, Cignetti!
Indiana 49, Western Kentucky 10
Kent State (1-1) @ No.6 Ohio State (1-1)
Ohio Stadium. 11 A.M. Big Ten Network
Ohio State by 52 1/2, 59 1/2
Ryan Day can win the cupcake games, but he hasn’t historically proven that he can defeat the better teams. I’m never sold on Day, even though he won it all two years ago. They spend more than anybody in college football.
Ohio State 58, Kent State 7
One more thing: Dan Lanning may be the most overrated coach in college football. He just can’t ever get it done when it matters. Oregon lost to Oklahoma State 39-31 last Saturday at Stillwater. Oklahoma State has a good new coach in Eric Morris from North Texas, but nearly all of his players are transfers. So, there is no excuse for that. Lanning proved again that he gags in the clutch.
Playoff as of today. It’ll change.
1. Miami 2. Georgia 3. Texas 4. Alabama 5. Notre Dame 6.Ole Miss 7. Texas A&M 8. Indiana 9. Ohio State 10. Houston 11. Virginia 12. Boise State
First Round. All games at the Higher-Seeded Team’s Home Stadium
Friday, December 18, 2026
No.5 Notre Dame over No.12 Boise State, 7 P.M. ESPN
Saturday, 12/19/26
No.6 Ole Miss over No.11 Virginia, 11 A.M. ESPN
No.10 Houston over No.7 Texas A&M, 2:30 P.M. TNT/truTV
No.8 Indiana over No.9 Ohio State, 6:30 P.M. TNT/truTV
Auburn’s Eric Winters with the defensive play of the season so far for the Tigers last Saturday in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Photo courtesy of Tik Tok).
Alabama and Auburn emerged victorious last Saturday with the Crimson Tide having a relatively easy time of it despite some hiccups, and the Tigers surviving a strong Baylor effort with one of the best form tackles you’ll ever see to save the game.
This weekend, the headliner is in Austin where the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes and their prolific wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who sure looks like the Heisman leader right now though Miami’s Malachi Toney can give him a run, will square off with Arch Manning and the No.4 Longhorns for a primetime Saturday night game.
The Crimson Tide travels to Kentucky in what will be a good first test for Keelon Russell and the Crimson Tide offense and Yhonzae Pierre and the defense.
The Auburn Tigers after barely getting by Baylor in what turned out to be a riveting final quarter of football, get a home game versus Southern Miss.
There are some other nice matchups with SEC teams playing key national opponents and all the best teams in action.
As usual, all games Saturday unless otherwise noted and all games Central time.
No. 12 Alabama (1-0) @ Kentucky (1-0)
Kroger Field, 2:30 P.M., ABC
Crimson Tide by 10 1/2, 49 1/2
Keelon Russell passed his first test last Saturday. It’ll get a little tougher in Lexington on Saturday. I like what I’m seeing out of freshman running back EJ Crowell. He looks like he’ll be stellar. I like Alabama to get a lot better from game one and have good success in Lexington.
Alabama 38, Kentucky 14
Southern Miss (1-0) @ Auburn (1-0)
Jordan-Hare
6:45 P.M. SEC Network
Tigers by 32 1/2, 56 1/2
Strong safety Eric Winters saved Auburn from a heartbreaker last Saturday with a game- saving tackle of Baylor tight end Matthew Klopfenstein on Baylor’s two point conversion attempt as the Tigers salvaged a victory, 17-16 after being outplayed by Florida transfer quarterback DJ Lagway and the Bears.
Coach Golesh was poised afterwards, but said the team has a lot of work ahead of it, if it wants to have a successful season.
I like the Tigers to get a little better in game two at home.
Auburn 35, Southern Miss 14
No. 1 Ohio State (1-0) @ No.4 Texas (1-0)
DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium
6:30 P.M. ABC
Texas by 1 1/2, 49 1/2
It’s going to be hot and windy in Austin with game time temperatures in the mid 90’s and wind gusting to 18. So this might be a lower scoring game than first thought. I’ll take the Buckeyes and Jeremiah Smith to survive this one. Smith caught 8 passes for a buck fifth one and 2 TDs last Saturday. I see him right now as the best player in college football. He’s the difference-maker for Ohio State.
Ohio State 20, Texas 17
No.11 Oklahoma (1-0) @ Michigan (1-0)
Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor
11 A.M. FOX
OU by 5 1/2, 43 1/2
Michigan is incredibly lucky to have won their game with Western Michigan. After a failed Hail Mary with the clock saying 0:00 left, the Big Ten refs somehow said there was a second left. It was a travesty. Western Michigan should have won that game. Bryce Underwood and Michigan are not impressive.
Michigan has a lot of work to do. I don’t know if new head coach Kyle Whittingham, who came up to Ann Arbor from Utah, is that great.
Oklahoma 23, Michigan 17
No. 18 Tennessee (1-0) @ Georgia Tech (0-1)
Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta
6 P.M. ESPN
Tennessee by 12 1/2, 55 1/2
The Vols have a pretty tough opponent, and the weather is a little questionable as of right now with a chance of t-storms and windy. Freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon looks pretty sharp. Vols skate by.
Tennessee 20, Tech 14
Arizona State (1-0) @ No. 10 Texas A&M (1-0)
Kyle Field, College Station
11 A.M. ABC
Aggies by 14 1/2, 50 1/2
Arizona State is scrappy under Kenny Dillingham. They give Marcel Reed and the Aggies some trouble, but A&M survives.
Texas A&M 31, Arizona State 27
Western Kentucky (0-1) @ No.2 Georgia (1-0)
Sanford Stadium, Athens
11:45 A.M. SEC Network
Georgia by 40 1/2, 55 1/2
As Excedrin says, “Dawgs keep it rollin’.” Injuries are the main concern for Georgia in this game.
Georgia 56, Western Kentucky 10
Friday
No.23 Missouri (1-0) @ Kansas (1-0)
Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence
7 P.M. FOX
Missouri by 5 1/2, 50 1/2
I’m looking at a pretty tight game here, but I’ll take the Mizzou Tigers to emerge.
Missouri 30, Kansas 24
Louisiana Tech (1-0) @ No. 8 LSU (1-0)
Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA.
6:30 P.M. SEC Network+
LSU by 35 1/2, 56 1/2
I’m going to stop worrying about Kiffin. He’ll always be hateable, but the team looks good. They did kill a pretty terrible Clemson team last Saturday Night. Dabo looks clueless in this era of college football. I like the old school recruiting and development approach the best, but you’ve got to change things up when things are going south. I would think Clemson has the financial ability to attract good players. Don’t know for a fact, but South Carolina can, so Dabo either needs to accept this new era of college football or call it a career.
LSU 49, LA Tech 13
Mississippi State (1-0) @ Minnesota (1-0)
Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
2:30 P.M. CBS
Minnesota by 1 1/2, 55 1/2
I’ll take the upset here. I like what I’m seeing in year 3 at Starkville with Coach Jeff Lebby and new quarterback Kamario Taylor, who completed 22 of 34 last Saturday for 354 yards and 4 TDs and 0 interceptions as State “bulldozed” LA. Monroe, 62-13.
Give me Coach Lebby, Taylor and the Bullies.
State 27, Minnesota 24
Arkansas (1-0) @ No.20 Utah (1-0)
Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake
9:15 P.M. ESPN
Utah by 12 1/2, 55 1/2
I’ll take the Utes.
Utah 31, Arkansas 21
No. 9 Ole Miss 55, Charlotte 7
Vaught-Hemingway, Oxford
6:45 P.M. ESPN
Ole Miss by 47 1/2, 59 1/2
Ole Miss is lucky to be 1-0. Their defense fell apart against Louisville and they barely survived. Louisville’s a pretty good offense, but Pete Golding was saying how great his defense was before the season and I’m not seeing it.
Other Scores from the SEC and Nationally
Florida 45, Campbell 14
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville
4:30 P.M. SEC Network+
Gators by 51 1/2, 66 1/2
Florida hasn’t been challenged, so it’s hard to tell if they’re any good.
South Carolina 49, Towson 6
Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia
6 P.M. SEC Network+
Gamecocks by 42 1/2, 55 1/2
Even though they haven’t played anybody I’m getting pretty bullish on this team with OC Kendal Briles working with LaNorris Sellers.
Vanderbilt 34, Delaware 17
FirstBank Stadium, Nashville
3:15 P.M. SEC Network
Vandy by 21 1/2, 54 1/2
I don’t like at all what Clark Lea is doing with his two quarterback system. Play five-star freshman Jared Curtis and don’t play low three-star senior Blaze Berlowitz. He’s messing up the team and the momentum they created from last season.
No.6 Oregon 37, Oklahoma State 14
Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK.
11 A.M. ESPN
Oregon by 22 1/2, 56 1/2
I thought Oregon wouldn’t have major problems with Boise State, but they just got by, 34-27 at home. The question every year is do you trust Oregon? I never do trust them to go all the way, but we got a long way to go.
No. 5 Indiana 66, Howard 7
Memorial Stadium, Bloomington
11 A.M. Big Ten Network
Indiana by 56 1/2, 65 1/2
Total joke. You never know much about this team when they play these cupcakes. I do like quarterback Josh Hoover throwing a TD pass with blood all over his face.
Today
Miami 70, Florida A&M 3
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
7 P.M. ACC Network
Miami by 59 1/2, 65 1/2
Another joke game, but I do think the Canes are for real. Indiana is too for that matter. Malachi Toney caught 12 passes for 234 yards and 3 TDs for the Canes last Friday @ Stanford in a 45-6 victory. Quarterback Darian Mensah completed 27 of 30 passes for 401, 5 TDs and 0 interceptions. Certainly Heisman candidates on South Beach.
Here’s a nice music video from Jacksonville, Alabama native Riley Green.
Coach Golesh leads his Auburn Tigers into his and their maiden voyage as a football team in Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Photo courtesy of Auburn Tigers).
Good Thursday afternoon, and welcome to Week 1 of College Football. There has been so much controversy and upheaval in the game this summer and early into this season, that it’s mind-spinning every day to read about LSU and the SEC, and everything else going on.
The latest is that the SEC is suing LSU to disallow it from adding players who have signed NFL contracts to its roster. That saga is to be determined. Baton Rouge Judge William Jorden will decide today if the temporary restraining order allowing the professional players to play at LSU will be upheld, allowing them to play until at least September 11th.
It’s a cluster, and that’s all this Blog is going to talk about concerning that, as there is some terrific football going on this weekend around the Southeastern Conference and nationally.
The marquee game actually takes place in Baton Rouge, with Dabo Swinney and his Clemson Tigers visiting Tiger Stadium and Coach Kiffin and LSU. Ole Miss squares off with Louisville in Nissan Stadium in Nashville in another classic on Sunday Night.
Of course, around these parts, the Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers embark on important seasons for both programs, as Kalen DeBoer and new quarterback, the talented Keelon Russell, along with new offensive and defensive lines, take their first test in game 1 versus East Carolina.
And the Auburn Tigers really get challenged as Coach Alex Golesh comes to the Plains from South Florida, and he and his South Florida transfer quarterback Byrom Brown will face the Baylor Bears in an excellent non-conference matchup. It’s one of the marquee games of the weekend.
There are not a lot of blockbusters this first weekend, but all the big names are playing, and there are some key games that we’ll dive into.
Here’s a look at week 1 with previews and predictions.
Record last week, Week 0: SU, 3-4; ATS, 4-3; O/U, 4-3.
Games Saturday, Friday and Thursday. All games Saturday unless otherwise noted. All game times are Central.
Tier One games
East Carolina @ No.13 Alabama, Bryant-Denny Stadium 11 A.M., ABC. Bama by 28 1/2, 52 1/2
The highly talented Keelon Russell takes over the most important position in football at one of the places where it’s the most important job in state, if not the most important. (Photo courtesy of TikTok).
Keelon Russell is the highest-rated recruit ever signed by Alabama, according to 247 Sports, which started rating high school players in 2010. Keelon was a .9998 five-star. His senior season at Duncanville, Texas, he was named National Gatorade Player of the Year after throwing for 4,177 yards and 55 touchdowns against only 4 interceptions. His completion percentage was 69.4 as he connected on 238 of 343 passes. He averaged 298 passing yards per game.
It was a heated competition for starting quarterback on this year’s Crimson Tide team, with former four-star recruit from the University of Washington Austin Mack battling it out tooth and nail with Keelon. Russell had a nice spring game with Mack banged up.
Russell completed 21 of 33 passes for 240, 4 TDs and only 1 int. He’s a superb talent. Mack is a highly capable backup.
But he’s got to have protection and a lot of help from the running game. Michael Carroll at right guard and Jackson Lloyd at left tackle will be leaned on for leadership and physical toughnessas they try to clear running lanes for running backs Daniel Hill, Kevin Riley and five-star freshman EJ Crowell, who has battled some injuries in the spring and summer but has been declared ready to go by Coach DeBoer. The wide receivers, led by Ryan Coleman- Williams, whom Alabama fans hope is rejuvenated, will need to produce.
The defense is anchored by Bray Hubbard, Zabien Brown, Dijon Lee and a hyper-talented secondary. Outside linebacker/defensive end Yhonzee Pierre is expected to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks.
So what can this team get done this year? Is it a Playoff spot and a deep run? It’s possible if the line can block, Russell can develop quickly, the running backs deliver, the wideouts play high level football, and the defense shines.
I like this team. They should get off to a solid start against East Carolina.
Alabama 42, East Carolina 10
Byrom Brown takes the reins and homes in on making it great to be an Auburn Tiger once again. (Photo courtesy of Facebook).
Auburn vs. Baylor, Mercedes-Benz Stadium,Atlanta 2:30 P.M., ABC, Tigers by 7 1/2, 58 1/2
Alex Golesh and his new quarterback Byrom Brown, take center stage Saturday in Mercedes-Benz Stadium as they challenge themselves against the Baylor Bears.
In 2025 at South Florida, Brown completed 226 of 341, 66%, for 3,158 yards, 28 TDs against 7 interceptions, and also rushed for 1,008 yards and 14 TDs. Those are impressive numbers. Can it translate against SEC defenses in 2026? That’s the sixty-four-thousand- dollar question. He’ll be challenged out of the starting blocks against a pretty good Baylor team.
The Auburn rushing game, along with Brown, will need to help. Jeremiah Cobb headlines that group as the junior rushed for 969 yards and 5 TDs in 2025. Like the Crimson Tide, the Tigers will have to get good production out of their offensive line. The receivers, several of whom are from South Florida, will need to produce, and DJ Durkin’s defense, led by standout outside linebacker Xavier Atkins, will need to play solidly for the squad to make an improvement from the last several years, which Auburn fans are more than ready for.
I like the Tigers to win Saturday. They’ll be challenged by Dave Aranda’s Bears, but I’ll take the Tigers to persevere and start off with a solid out of conference victory.
Auburn 31, Baylor 27
Another marquee matchup features Kiffin versus Sweeney. (Photo courtesy of Facebook).
Quite a matchup of two complete opposite personalities running their respective sidelines.
Dabo Swinney is old guard, by the book: recruit’em, train’em, play hard-nosed football, respect the integrity of the game. Just play solid football.
Lane Kiffin pushes the envelope to the limit. He attacks the transfer portal, has a $50 million team payroll, and plays wide-open, go-for-it on every fourth down type football. He’s a risk taker and causes controversy wherever he is.
LSU first year quarterback Sam Leavitt completed 216 of 350 passes in 2024 for Arizona State, 62%, for 2,885 yards, 24 TDs and 6 interceptions. In an injury riddled 2025, Leavitt was 145 of 239, 61%, for 1,628 yards, 10 TDs and 3 interceptions. He brings a lot of talent, experience and leadership to the LSU Tigers football team.
On the opposite side, Coach Sweeney went with redshirt junior Christopher Vizzina of Briarwood Christian School in Birmingham and a nephew of Birmingham native Davy Bennett, whom several people know on this Blog.
Vizzina completed 45 of 71 passes last season for 406 yards, 4 TDs and 1 interception in more limited play as Cade Klubnik played most of the snaps. Klubnik is trying to make it in the pros now. So it’ll be an interesting quarterback and coaching matchup.
I like LSU only because they’re at home. There are a lot of new players down there, and it might take time for them to jell. Dabo and his team gives them a tussle.
LSU 28, Clemson 24
Sunday
Trinidad Chambliss leads his Rebels into what they hope is a spectacular season. (Photo courtesy of Yahoo Sports).
No. 24 Louisville vs. No.9 Ole Miss, Nissan Stadium, Nashville, 6:30 P.M. ABC, Ole Miss by 6 1/2, 55 1/2
Pete Golding takes over for his first full season after taking over the Rebels in the Playoff, and, along with his superstar quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, leading the team to the Semifinals of the Playoff before falling to Miami late in the game. But the team posted two solid playoff victories over Tulane and Georgia.
Chambliss completed 294 of 445 passes last season, 66%, for 3,937 yards, 22 TDs and only 3 interceptions. He also rushed for 537 yards and 8 more TDs. He’s a phenom, and so is running back Kewan Lacy, who rushed for 1,567 yards and 24 scores in 2025. Both these guys are Heisman Trophy candidates, along with several others. But these are two of the best players in the country.
I like Pete, Trinidad, Kewan, and what Golding says is the best defense he’s ever coached to get the job done in Nashville.
Ole Miss 31, Louisville 24
Tennessee State @ No.3 Georgia, Sanford Stadium, 2 P.M., SEC Network+, Georgia by 47 1/2, 54 1/2
Georgia should have no problem here. Gunner Stockton and his teammates commence on what they hope will be a special season in 2026. They always are special seasons at Georgia, but Stockton and his team want to take it to another level.
Georgia 49, Tennessee State 3
Arch Manning homes in on taking Texas to the highest level. (Photo courtesy of Instagram).
Texas State @ No.5 Texas, DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, 2:30 P.M. ESPN, Texas by 30, 59 1/2
The young man from the first family of football will try to lead his Longhorns to a higher level in 2026. Texas has knocked on the door with Steve Sarkisian at the helm, and there were high hopes for Arch last season. While those expectations weren’t met, he showed a lot of promise for what kind of quarterback he can become, as Texas was one of the teams that barely missed the Playoff.
Manning completed 248 of 404 passes, 61%, for 3,163 yards, 26 TDs and 7 interceptions. He rushed for 399 yards and 10 more TDs. He’ll lead a terrifically talented Texas team into 2026, a group that thinks it can win it all. He has the running backs and the wide receiving corps, with Cam Coleman from Auburn leading the way. The offensive line and defense will decide how far the Longhorns go this season.
Texas 52, Texas State 7
Tier 2 games
Friday
UTEP @ No.10 Oklahoma, Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, 7 P.M., SEC Network, OU by 41 1/2, 51 1/2
I like Brent Venables, John Mateer and the Sooners to have a solid start to the season. The OU defense will be stout. Mateer’s play is the key to the Sooners’ success this season.
Oklahoma 45, UTEP 3
If A&M’s Marcel Reed can take it to an even higher level, the talented Aggies will be highly dangerous. (Photo courtesy of Instagram).
Missouri State @ No.8 Texas A&M, Kyle Field, 6 P.M., ESPN, Aggies by 40 1/2, 53 1/2
For Mike Elko and his Aggies, it’s all about the play of quarterback Marcel Reed this season.
If Reed excels, so do the Aggies. If he’s inconsistent, they won’t reach their goals of making the Playoff and advancing there.
I like Reed. He seems like a great kid from Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville and has played a lot of good football. He completed 234 of 377, 62%, for 3,169 yards, 25 TDs and 12 interceptions in 2025. He also rushed for 493 yards and 6 more TDs. He’s got a lot of talent. He threw too many interceptions last season and had poor games against Texas in the final game of the season and against Miami in the Aggies first round playoff loss at home.
But he’s got a shot to do well, and so do the Aggies in the SEC and nationally.
Elko has the No.1 recruiting class in the country in 2027 right now.
A&M 45, Mizzou State 7
Florida Atlantic @ Florida, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, 6:45 P.M., Gators by 26 1/2, 59 1/2
Like many schools, Florida has a new coach and a new quarterback. Jon Sumrall comes over from Tulane, where he had good success, and before that at Troy. Aaron Philo, a Georgia Tech transfer, will be under center for Florida in game 1.
In limited play at Tech, Philo completed 21 of 28 passes, 75%, for 373 with a TD and one interception. He played behind established starter Haynes King at Tech.
But Sumrall and the Gators are high on Philo, and they’re ecstatic to have running back Jaden Baugh back. Baugh rushed for 1,170 yards and 8 TDs last season and has the potential, with his physicality and breakaway speed, to really enhance those numbers this season.
I like this Gators squad. They’l be heading in the right direction in 2026.
Josh Heupel picked five-star freshman Faizon Brandon as his quarterback over four-star sophomore George McIntyre. Brandon is a specimen at 6’3 1/2″, 225 pounds. This will be interesting to watch. The kid’s got a ton of talent, so it might work out for Heupel and the Vols.
Tennessee 35, Furman 17
Tonight
Arkansas Pine Bluff (1-0) @ No.25 Missouri, Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field, 7 P.M., SEC Network, Mizzou by 55 1/2, 61 1/2
Missouri will start Ole Miss transfer Austin Simmons, who got Wally Pipped by Trinidad Chambliss at Oxford last season. Starting running back Ahmad Hardy was shot this summer but is expected to be back in mid September. Gotta be careful out there.
Jamal Roberts will start at running back. Roberts rushed for 753 yards and 6 TDs last season, so he’s a strong replacement for Hardy while he keeps recovering.
Give me Eli Drinkwitz and his team to have a good night tonight.
Missouri 59, Arkansas Pine Bluff 3
Tier 3 games
Kent State @ South Carolina, Williams-Brice Stadium, 11:45 A.M., SEC Network, SC by 36 1/2, 54 1/2
Shane Beamer hired Kendal Briles from TCU as his offensive coordinator to try to turn his and his team’s fortunes around. I like the hire. If he can get LaNorris Sellers playing good football under center, the Gamecocks have a chance to win 8 or 9 games this season. There’s a lot of talent on this team.
Clark Lea had really gained momentum from last season’s 10-3 season, though they did lose in the ReliaQuest Bowl to Iowa, 34-27. They looked like they had mailed it in after not getting in the playoff.
Still, things looked highly optimistic as the Dores signed five-star quarterback Jared Curtis, stealing him away from Georgia.
But Lea has gone with New Mexico State transfer Blaze Berlowitz as his starter versus Austin Peay, saying both quarterbacks will play. I believe in the axiom that if you have two quarterbacks, you have no quarterback. And Curtis’ ceiling is so much higher than Berlowitz’s. I hope it works out for Lea. Seems like a mistake. There’s a lot of talent around the quarterback and on the other side of the ball, Lea has recruited the high schools and portal well, so maybe that can compensate for the two quarterback/no quarterback system.
Vanderbilt 30, Austin Peay 10
North Alabama (1-0) @ Arkansas, Razorback Stadium, 3:15 P.M., SEC Network, Arkansas by 40 1/2, 63 1/2
After a successful tenure at Memphis, Ryan Silverfield tests the hard-charging waters of the SEC. North Alabama’s already played and won a game, so the Hogs may be tested a little more than they think. Probably not, though. North Alabama defeated woeful Samford last Saturday, 22-10.
Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, State by 28 1/2, 54 1/2
National Outlook
No.6 Indiana 45, North Texas 3, Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, 11 A.M. FOX, IU by 40 1/2, 55 1/2
Curt Cignetti has a new quarterback after he and Fernando Mendoza led their team to the national championship in 2025. Mendoza is now waiting his turn behind Kirk Cousins in Las Vegas for the Raiders, and Cignetti has a new quarterback, TCU transfer Josh Hoover.
Hoover completed 272 of 413 passes last season, 66%, for 3,472 yards, 29 TDs, and 13 interceptions. I feel like Cignetti and his coaching staff will figure how to get Hoover to cut down on the interceptions and have a big season, with IU right in the thick of things in December/January.
The prolific Jeremiah Smith will try to be lifting a couple of trophies in 2026. (Photo courtesy of FOX Sports).
No.1 Ohio State 56, Ball State 3
Ohio Stadium, Columbus, 11:30 A.M., Big Ten Network
Buckeyes by 50 1/2, 56 1/2
As a freshman, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith caught 76 passes for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns in a Buckeye national championship season. Last season, his sophomore year, he caught 87 passes for 1,243 yards and 12 TDs. He could be lifting the Heisman Trophy in December and the national championship trophy in January if his team pans out.
Dan Lanning tries to take the Oregon Ducks to a place they’ve never been before: on top of the college football landscape. (Photo courtesy of The Daily Emerald, Eugene, OR.)
No.2 Oregon 38, Boise State 10
Autzen Stadium, Eugene, 2:30 P.M., CBS
Oregon by 24 1/2, 51 1/2
Dan Lanning has recruited and developed Oregon into what should be the best team they’ve ever had in his five years at the helm. They have trouble with the final hurdles in the playoff, but this year’s team could be different.
Sunday
No.4 Notre Dame 31, Wisconsin 7
Lambeau Field, Green Bay. Gotta love that.
6:30 P.M. NBC
ND by 21, 46 1/2
The Fighting Irish under Marcus Freeman are playing with a mad on after being snubbed from the Playoff last season. They start their 2026 journey impressively at the Frozen Tundra.
Friday
No.7 Miami 24, Stanford 21
Stanford Stadium, Palo Alto, CA.
8 P.M., ESPN
Miami by 24 1/2, 47 1/2
Miami has trouble with the rejuvenated Stanford team under coach Tavita Pritchard.
Davis Warren, the Stanford quarterback, is the son of Jeff Warren, who I was a Phi Delta Theta with at Vanderbilt. Jeff was a super guy and Davis seems like a great young guy too.
Jaden Craig “matriculates” football-wise, to TCU after a decorated career in the Ivy League. (Photo courtesy of The Harvard Crimson).
Week 0 in College Football kicks off Saturday, and after all the upheaval over the summer, it’s time to put the controversy aside and focus on what’s best about the sport: the games.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey took a hard stand against Lane Kiffin and the LSU contingency when he barred any SEC team from adding NFL players to their roster. Players who had already signed NFL contracts.
Sankey put a league-wide penalty on any team that violated this rule. The punishment is severe. If a team does try and take an NFL player, the head coach would be suspended for half the season, the SEC would cut half of the team’s operations budget, and the school would lose SEC voting privileges.
I greatly admire the Commissioner for his strong stand.
That’s a positive for college football.
Now, onto the Week 0 matchups. Teams will be trying to establish themselves in the national landscape right out of the starting blocks. There’s an excellent storyline in every game on the opening weekend slate.
Here’s a look at Week 0, along with White’s World’s Sports Confidential’s Predictions.
Record in 2025: SU-174-58, 75%. ATS: 108-124, 47%. Over/Under: 123-109, 53%. Playoff/Bowls SU:13-8. ATS: 12-9. O/U: 15-6.
Record in 2024: 169-64, 73%; ATS: 121-111, 52%; O/U: 13-13. O/U just for bowls/Playoff, when I started keeping Over/Under. 2024 includes regular season and Playoff/Bowls.
All games are Saturday, and all times are Central. Records from 2025 are in Parentheses.
North Carolina (4-8, 2-6 ACC) vs. TCU (9-4, 5-4 Big 12)
Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, 51,700
11 A.M.
ESPN
Mike Monaco, JRodg, Dana Boyle
TCU by 8 1/2, O/U 46 1/2
Bill Belichick tries to recover from a disastrous first year at the helm in Chapel Hill. He’s got a new quarterback in Billy Edwards Jr., who threw for 2,881 yards with 15 TDs and 9 interceptions in 2024 for Maryland, but only played in three games for Wisconsin last year.
As usual, Belichick’s squad is packed with transfers. A lot of baggage in this program under Belichick, which is typical. A coach, his son, Steve, left the team for a medical leave. Another coach, the General Manager Michael Lombardi, not a coach technically, was suspended after a personnel complaint.
And, with that said, in comes Easy Rider Bobby Petrino to rescue the offense. That’s some serious luggage. He does have success as an offensive mind on his resume, however.
The TCU defense, and particularly its secondary, will be tested by Petrino and Edwards Jr. After a solid 2025 season on offense, as usual under Sonny Dykes, the Horned Frogs needed to bring in a new signal caller as Josh Hoover took his talents to Bloomington and Curt Cignetti; the defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers. Hoover had some good moments in Fort Worth, but he’s also a pretty high interception passer. He threw 29 TDs, but also 13 ints last season. We’ll see if Cignetti and company can do better in that department with Hoover.
Jaden Craig comes to Fort Worth from Harvard where he threw for 2,869 yards, 25 TDs and 7 ints in 2025, and 2,430 yards, 23 TDs and 3 ints in 2024. He’s not a big scrambler, but he’s a solid athlete. TCU returns two starting offensive linemen, and 12 more returners, which will help their quarterback stay upright.
Gordon Sammis came over from UConn to replace Kendal Briles as offensive coordinator as Briles took the OC job under Shane Beamer at South Carolina. In 2025, the UConn offense was 16th in the country in points per game at 36.9. They ranked 18th nationally in yards, averaging 456.7 per game. And they led the nation in ball security turning the ball over only once all season. Sammis played offensive line at Virginia. So a possible upgrade for the Horned Frogs.
Prediction
This game may not be as high scoring a game as predicted, due to it being the first game of the season. TCU walloped UNC 48-14 in Chapel Hill last season, but I expect a much more competitive game in Dublin. Belichick and Petrino should have the Tar Heels better prepared, while both teams are breaking in new quarterbacks. I’ll take TCU to win, but UNC to make it interesting.
TCU 24, UNC 20
San Jose State (3-9, 2-6 Mountain West) @ USC (9-4, 7-2 Big Ten)
Jayden Maiava is expected to have a big year for the Trojans. (Photo courtesy of the LA Times).
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, 77,500
2 P.M.
NBC
Noah Eagle, Todd, Kathryn Tappen
USC by 38 1/2, 60 1/2
Lincoln Riley secured the No.1 high school recruiting class in 2026 (On3 Rankings), and has declared that USC is back. They had a good year in 2025, not great, but have aspirations of making the Playoff this season. If they don’t, Riley may start feeling some more heat. Riley is expecting big things from quarterback Jayden Maiava, who in 2025, completed 265 of 403 attempts for 3,711 yards, 66 percent, 24 TDs and 10 ints. Those are probably more interceptions than Riley is looking for, but Maiava is in his fourth season, and that’s not terrible. He rushed for 6 touchdowns in 2025.
USC is planning on a big season in LA, and they aren’t backing down from their belief that they’re one of the best teams in the country. Lincoln Riley has done it before at Oklahoma, so you have some trust in his comments that USC is ready to compete. He could very well be right.
This’ll be tough for the Spartans.
USC 49, San Jose State 7
North Carolina State (7-6, 4-4 ACC) @ Virginia (11-3, 7-1)
CJ Bailey is stellar under center for the Wolfpack. (Photo courtesy of Queen City News, Charlotte N.C.)
Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, 61,500
2:30 P.M.
ESPN
Wes Durham, Max Browne, Madison Fitzpatrick
UVA by 4, 52 1/2
The ‘Hoos had a terrific 2025 under Tony Elliott as they reached the ACC Championship Game, losing to Duke, unfortunately in that one, but winning the Gator Bowl over Missouri, 13-7. Missouri transfer Beau Pribula will take the snaps for the Cavaliers this season. For Eli Drinkwitz and Missouri last season, Pribula completed 68% of his passes with 11 TDs and 9 interceptions. He rushed for 6 TDs.
On the other side, CJ Bailey completed 69% of his passes with 25 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. He also ran for 6 scores.
Prediction
Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren is 4-0 against Virginia, including last season’s 35-31 comeback victory over Virginia in Raleigh, and the Pack hasn’t lost @ C-Ville since 1996. I like CJ Bailey and company to keep that momentum going and propel the Wolfpack into the 2026 season with an upset victory at Scott Stadium.
NC State 28, Virginia 27
Jacksonville State (9-5, 7-1 C-USA) @ North Dakota State (12-1, 8-0 MVC)
Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome, 18,700
4:30 P.M.
CBS Sports Network
Rich Waltz, Adam Breneman, Brian Kelly? Are you kiddin’ me?
NDSU by 7, 46 1/2
After winning 10 national championships in FCS, which included five in a row from 2011-15, and the most recent one in 2024, the Bison left the Missouri Valley Conference and now begins their journey into FBS play as one of the now 138 teams in FBS this season. Jax State is solid, but I like the Bison at the Fargodome. Don’t know a ton about the Dome except that it is a definite home field advantage from what I’ve researched on it.
The Bison aims to make a statement in FBS this season. They had massive success in FCS ball and plan on the same at the FBS level. They play big, tough, physical football and that translates well to any level of the game. The home field will be an advantage at the end, too.
North Dakota State 24, Jacksonville State 16
Hawaii (9-4, 5-3 Mountain West) @ Stanford (4-8, 2-6 ACC)
Stanford Stadium, Palo Alto, 50,424
6 P.M.
ACC Network
Jorge Sedano, Rodney McLeod, Kendra Douglas
Stanford by 4 1/2, 48 1/2
Stanford had a tough transition into the ACC last season, and have a new coach, Tavita Pritchard, who is a former quarterback at Stanford from 2006-09. But Hawaii is pretty tough and defeated the Cardinal last season. I like the upset.
Hawaii 27, Stanford 24
New Mexico State (4-8, 2-6 C-USA) @ Florida State (5-7, 2-6 ACC)
Former Auburn quarterback Ashton Daniels takes the reins in Tallahassee (Photo courtesy of x.com)
Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium, 67,277
6 P.M.
CW Network
Thom Brennaman, Jason Cabinda, Wes Bryant
FSU by 32 1/2, 52 1/2
I really like former Auburn and Stanford quarterback Ashton Daniels, who is now the new FSU starting quarterback . He completed 68 of 119 last season, 57 percent, for 797 yards, 3 TDs and 2 ints last year for the Tigers, playing at the end of the season, but gave Vanderbilt everything it wanted as he and Cam Coleman, now with Texas, wore out the Commodores secondary; though Diego Pavia and Vanderbilt prevailed in the end.
But Daniels and Coleman put on a clinic. I believe the ‘Noles will be improved with Daniels under center. Mike Norvell certainly needs him to be with Norvell’s job in jeopardy again with a bad season if Florida State can afford Norvell’s massive buyout.
Jackson Arnold, also from Auburn, will be under center for UNLV. (Photo courtesy of Hudl).
Allegiant Stadium, Vegas, 65,000
9 P.M.
FOX
Tim Brando, Devin Gardner, Josh Sims
UNLV by 4, 56 1/2
Charles Huff takes over at Memphis. Ryan Silverfield secured the Arkansas job after six solid seasons in the River City where he posted a 50-25 record and a 4-1 bowl record.
Memphis head coaches can have trouble with the transition from the Group of Five to Power 4 jobs. The Group of Five is now the Group of Six with the PAC-12 joining the American, the Sun Belt, the Mountain West, C-USA and the MAC.
Two examples of Memphis coaches struggling are Justin Fuente, who struggled at Virginia Tech before being fired, and now Norvell, who has been really slogging through the last couple of years at FSU, though he had good success in 2023, just missing the then four team playoff.
Both are good coaches. It’s just a tough row to hoe. Huff, a former running backs coach for Nick Saban in 2019 and 2020, has compiled a 39-25 overall head coaching record with a four year stint at Marshall, and last season at Southern Miss.
He’ll take on Dan Mullen and Jackson Arnold, a quarterback that has to be hungry to prove himself. Arnold completed 63 percent of his passes at Auburn last season with 6 TDs and 2 ints, but was benched later in the year. In 2024 at Oklahoma, he completed 63% of his passes for 1,421 yards with 12 TDs and 3 ints and led the Sooners to a victory over the Crimson Tide, 24-3. He rushed for 8 TDs at Auburn, and 3 for the Sooners.
Prediction
I like Huff to do a really good job at Memphis and for Memphis to keep this game close. But I like Mullen, Arnold and the Rebels to prevail.
All SEC Championship hopes run through Athens, but can Georgia and Gunner Stockton and Georgia do better than an SEC Championship? (Photo courtesy of The New York Times).
The Georgia Bulldogs won the SEC Championship in 2024 and 2025, but failed to get past the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff both seasons. Can Kirby Smart and Gunner Stockton shift the narrative to both SEC andnational champions in 2026?
Smart, 50 years old and born in Montgomery, has amassed a 117-21 overall record in 10 seasons at Georgia (85%), and authored a 75-19 SEC record (80%). He has four SEC Championships on his resume, 2017, 2022, 2024 and 2025, and national championships in 2021 and 2022.
The resume is impeccable, but there seems to be some frustration with how the last two seasons have ended in Athens, as the Bulldogs have failed to advance beyond the quarterfinals of the 12-team playoff.
Smart has a team capable of running the table all the way to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Monday, January 25th, 2027. But some things have to fall into place for the Bulldogs. And the schedule, like all schedules in the SEC, is intensely demanding.
Here’s a look at the keys to Georgia’s success in 2026.
Quarterback Gunner Stockton
Gunner Stockton returns for his senior season. The 6’1″, 215 pounder from Tiger, Georgia,
completed 269 of 386 passes in 2025, 70%, for 2,894 yards, 24 TDs, and only five
interceptions.
He also rushed for 462 yards and 10 TDs.
If Stockton can throw the ball downfield even better this season, and keep progressing as
both a player and a leader, the sky’s the limit.
Running backs
Nate Frazier will anchor the running game this season. (Photo courtesy of Instagram).
Nate Frazier will anchor the running game. The 5’10”, 205-pound junior, rushed for 947 yards and six touchdowns. He brings excellent running power between the tackles, solid speed, and an ability to break tackles and create explosive plays.
Sophomore Chauncey Bowens is a 5’11”, 225- pound powerful runner who may have even better take-it-the-house ability than Frazier. Bowens rushed for 546 yards and 6 TDs last season.
Dante Dowdell, a transfer from Kentucky who rushed for 560 yards and three touchdowns in 2025, was seriously injured in an ATV accident this summer, and his status for this season is uncertain.
He is out of the woods as far as any major repercussions to his health, but playing is not in the plans for the foreseeable future.
Dwight Phillips is a 5’10”, 185 junior who rushed for 210 yards and a touchdown, but Frazier and Bowens, if they remain healthy, will do the heavy lifting.
With four of five starters returning on the offensive line, led by center Drew Bobo, 6’5″, 305, the Dawgs will be formidable once again on the ground.
Through the air, there is talent, but not a lot of proven production.
The most experienced receiver is London Humphreys, who caught 18 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns in 2025. Isiah Canion is a 6’4″, 205 junior transfer from Georgia Tech who caught 33 passes for 480 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2025 for the Yellow Jackets.
Sacovie White-Helton caught eight passes for 70 yards but no touchdowns last season as a Bulldog. He is 5’9″, 180.
There are several players behind those starters on the depth chart, but no proven players in that group.
It’s a talented room, but untested for the most part.
Defense
KJ Bolden will anchor the secondary at free safety. (Photo courtesy of X.com).
Last year’s defense had trouble getting to the quarterback, and it really cost the team in its loss to Ole Miss in the quarterfinal playoff game. Georgia simply could not stop Trinidad Chambliss.
The Bulldogs will have to be better in that area this season.
The defense is led by senior defensive end/OLB Gabe Harris Jr., a 6’4″, 260-pounder who is expected to have a tremendous season.
In his junior year, Harris Jr. finished with 6 1/2 tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble, but is expected to take on a more dominating role this season.
Senior middle linebacker Raylen Wilson, 6’1″, 235, finished with 74 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, and 2.5 sacks in 2025.
Free safety KJ Bolden leads the back end for Georgia.
The 6’0″, 195-pound senior finished with 76 tackles last year, added two ints and recovered a fumble. He’ll quarterback the secondary.
Key Games
The key games for Georgia include-all Saturdays- September 19 @ Arkansas (11 A.M. CT/noon ET, ABC), September 26 vs Oklahoma, October 10 @ Alabama, October 17 vs Auburn, the Deep South’s oldest rivalry going on its 131st meeting.
Georgia leads the series, 66-56-8, and has won the last nine dating back to 2017.
Smart and the Dogs have not had as much success against the Crimson Tide, as Alabama leads the series 45-27-4, with Smart going 1-5 against Nick Saban and 1-2 against Kalen DeBoar so far.
The October 10 game at Bryant-Denny Stadium is a major contest for both teams, and then the Auburn Tigers invade Sanford Stadium the following Saturday.
The Florida game in Jacksonville on October 31 will be tough as well, as people in Gainesville and pundits around the SEC like this Florida team that Jon Sumrall has taken over.
On Nov. 7, the Bulldogs travel to Oxford to face Pete and the Rebels.
Nov. 14 is Missouri at home. Nov. 21 is @ South Carolina, a challenge for sure. And Nov. 28 is Georgia Tech at Sanford Stadium.
This gauntlet would challenge anybody in this conference, but Smart and Georgia embrace it.
Prediction
I’m looking at a team that can go 11-1 overall and win the SEC Championship again.
A loss at Alabama is possible, and games against Oklahoma, Florida in Jacksonville, @ Ole Miss, Trinidad and Kewan Lacy again will severely test the Bulldog defense, are all difficult. And @ South Carolina ain’t no bargain.
Auburn at home will be demanding, as it’s always a tough game, though I like the Bulldogs to emerge victorious in that one.
The key is, if the Dogs can matriculate through the SEC and win the SEC Championship over Texas, can they finally break through in the Playoff?
It’s about Stockton becoming an even more proficient downfield passer, and having a receiving corps that can be more explosive, and doing a better job catching the football than it has the last couple of seasons.
The running game and the line look strong if both units can stay healthy, which is always a question mark. The defense will face some electric quarterbacks this season.
Can it get pressure on the opposing quarterbacks and get’em on the ground?
That will be critical to this team’s success.
Saban always talked about affecting the quarterback, so Georgia will need to do that. But with the likes of Trinidad Chambliss, John Mateer, LaNorris Sellers, Keelon Russell or Austin Mack, Byrum Brown and potentially Arch Manning, this defense will be pushed to the limit to contain those explosive players.
Georgia can certainly win the SEC, but there will be a grueling stretch of games it’ll need to survive and advance.
Then, in the playoff, the Bulldogs could see the likes of Ohio State, Oregon, Notre Dame, defending national champion Indiana, Miami, and teams like Texas, Texas A&M, and possibly Alabama, Oklahoma, LSU or Ole Miss.
The Dawgs can win it all if they can stay reasonably healthy and Stockton and company can be even better this season, while the defense, which is loaded once again, plays the way Kirby Smart’s defenses used to play.
I give Georgia a 55 percent chance to win the SEC and finish 12-1.
To win it all, they’ll have to get stellar play from Stockton, his supporting cast and the defense.
